Track construction



of c. MONAHAN. TRACK CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29. I921.

Patqpted Dec. 12, 1922.

' flflniel 017072612012.

1 llVl/E/VTOR Byw fc.

Patented Dec. 12 1922..

, STATES DANIEL C. TYIONAHAN, OF VIARBIEN, ILLINOIS.

TRACK CONSTRUCTION;

Application filed October 29, I921. Serial 130. 511,266.

To aZZ whom it may comer-a:

Be it known that I, Datum. G. MONAHAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Warren, in the county of Jo Davicss, in the State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Track Constructions, of which the following -is a full, clear, and exact description.

vide a means of securing rails together having relatively few parts, all of which parts are interchangeable. j

A further object of my invention is to provide splice-plates of the nature described, adapted toengage the rails 1n standard holes as provided in the web of the rails.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the splice-plates operatively applied,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 of Figure 2.

In carrying out my invention, I make use of track rails 1 and 2, having holes of a standard specification 3 and 4, drilled in webs 5 and 6. The rails 1 and 2 are placed so that their ends 7 and 8 abut.

Splice-plates 9 having two projections 10 thereon, are placed one on each side of the webs and 6 of the rails 1 and 2, so that the projections of each plate 10 pass through two of the holes 3 and i, one in rail 1, the other in rail 2. Holes 11 in the splice-plates 9, provide means for the projections 10 to pass on through the splice plates and extend beyond the surface thereof.

The projections 10 and the holes 11 are so arranged that the splice-plates 9 are alike in construction and are interchangeable as is clearly shown in Figure 2.

Means forrigidly holding the rails -1 and 2 between the splice-plates 9 is provided by metal wedges 12, disposed in slots 13 in the projection 10 and bearing against the outer surface of the splice-plates and the outer side of the slots 13. I

The inner surfaces of the splice-plates 9 are made to conform with the shape of the web 6 and the base 14L of the rails and fit closely thereto when the wedges 12 are tightened in their respective slots 13.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood. The rails 1 and 2 are laid in the positions desired, their ends '7 and 8 of the two splice-plates 9 is then placed against the two rails so that one of the two projections 10 passes through one of the holes in rail 1, and the other through one of the holes in rail 2. This must be done so that the remaining two holes in rails 1 and 2 are in'line with the two holes 11 in the splice-plate. The other splice-plate is then placed against the rail so that its projections 10 pass through the two remaining holes therein and through the first splice-plate. The wedges 12 are then hammered into the slots 13 in the projections 10 and the work of securing the rails 1 and 2 together is completed.

Means for preventing the wedges 12 from working out of the projections 10 is provided by cotter pins 15 which are disposed in one of a plurality of holes 16 through the lower end of the wedges 12. This is clearly shown in Figure 3.

I claim:

1. The combination with abutting rail abutting. One

ends having bolt openings provided therein,

of a, splice plate disposed on each side of said rail ends, and arranged to overlap the abutting ends, each of said splice plates having integral projections, alternately arranged in alignment with one another, and arranged to register with said bolt openings in said rail ends respectively, and the projections of each splice plate extending: through the rail ends. and through the opening in the other splice plate, said projections having tapering openings, adjacent the ends thereof, and metal wedges adapted to enter the tapered openings, and bear against the outer surface of said splice plate and said projection for drawing said splice plate into close engagement with said rail ends when said wedges are hammered down.

2. The combination with abutting rail ends having bolt openings provided therein, of a splice plate disposed on each side of said rail ends, and arranged to overlap ings in said rail ends respectively, and the projections of each splice plate-extending through the rail ends, and through the open ings in the other splice plate, said projections having tapering openings, adjacent the ends thereof, and metal wedges adapted to enter the tapered openings, and bear against the outer surface of said splice plate and said projection for drawing said splice plateinto close engagement with said rail ends when said wedges are hammered down, said splice plates being exactly alike in construction and interchangeable.

DANIEL C. MONAHAN. 

